Outdoors · Pokhara · Nepal
5 best outdoor things to do in Pokhara
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Tandem paragliding, Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 4 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Sarangkot, Damside and Old Pokhara
Outdoors in Pokhara
Experience · Sarangkot
1.Tandem paragliding
Fly in the morning for calmer air and clearer mountains, and choose an operator with a clear safety record and insured pilots.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including transfer
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Damside
2.Davis Falls
Visit the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave across the road on the same trip to see the water emerge underground.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Photo spot
Religious site · Damside
3.Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Wear shoes with grip; the inner passage is slippery and low in places, and photography is not allowed in the shrine area.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
- History
Nature · Old Pokhara
4.Seti River gorge
Look over the edge from the bridges rather than approaching unfenced banks.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Begnas Lake
5.Begnas Lake
Combine a boat trip with the ridge walk between Begnas and Rupa lakes for views of both and of the mountains.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Sarangkot | Tandem paragliding | 2–3 hours including transfer |
| Damside | Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave | 45 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Old Pokhara | Seti River gorge | 30 minutes |
| Begnas Lake | Begnas Lake | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 1 free, 3 low cost, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Tandem paragliding. The longest visit is Begnas Lake; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Tandem paragliding: Book a day or two ahead in October and November; flights depend on weather and may be rescheduled.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Sarangkot, Damside and Old Pokhara): Tandem paragliding → Davis Falls → Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave → Seti River gorge, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Begnas Lake): Begnas Lake, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- November: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 1 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry, clear and comfortable; one of the best months for views, treks and paragliding.
- December: highs of 21°C (70°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Crisp, clear and dry, with cold nights; Lakeside celebrates the New Year with a street festival.
- January: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 2 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cool mornings and sunny days with good mountain views, though haze can build in the afternoon; cold on high treks.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Damside — Older, quieter tourist area by the Phewa dam with views of Machhapuchhre
- Sarangkot — Hilltop village at about 1,600 metres with sunrise views and the paragliding launch
- Old Pokhara — Original bazaar town of Newar houses and temples north of Lakeside
- Begnas Lake — Quiet lakeside villages and fish farms about 15 km east of Pokhara
More of Pokhara
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Pokhara?
Tandem paragliding. Tandem flights take off from the slopes of Sarangkot and glide over the valley for about 20–60 minutes, landing on the shore of Phewa Lake, with the Annapurnas behind on clear days.
+Which of these are free in Pokhara?
Seti River gorge.